How do you guys clean primer before top coating?

[AaronW]

I got my cab all primed and sanded and more or less ready to paint. I'm not sure that I'm getting all the sanding dust off the primer though. I started off using acetone, and quit, when I discovered that I could actually rub through the primer with that. Live and learn.... then I just went to some water, and changing rags pretty often, but I'm still not sure that I'm getting all the dust. What do you guys generally do, at this stage?

Aaron

 

[bucket]

What primer did you use?

Generally after sanding the primer, you just blow it off and lightly wipe it down with a tack cloth.

 

[AaronW]

A coat of self etching with a couple coats of sandable primer over that. I got it from van sickle paints. You thin the sandable primer with lacquer thinner, if that helps ID what kind it is.

I hadn't thought of tack cloth, which is weird, since I'm mostly a woodworker...


Aaron

 

[CalSgt]

What primer did you use?

Generally after sanding the primer, you just blow it off and lightly wipe it down with a tack cloth.

^^^ This, blow it off while rubbing with your hand & a light wipe with tack cloth and air right before paint

 

[bucket]

Ok, so with old lacquer primer, you need to be sure that you are using a compatible top coat that won't attack it. Otherwise, the paint may not end up adhering well and then you've got all that work down the tubes.

I haven't used that type of primer in 20 years and I don't have experience with very many paint manufacturers to begin with, so you may be ok. But I do know that with some modern paints, if you can remove the base primer with lacquer thinner, then it needs stripped and have a compatible primer applied.

 

[Termite_Delight]

I use soap and water (dish soap) with a CLEAN rag. Don't use compressed air to blow off unless its filtered and all moisture removed. Oil from the compressor will ruin your paint job.

 

[waterpirate]

If your sandable primer was low voc thinner based primer, a can of pre-cleaner goes a long way on a clean rag.
Eric

 

[bucket]

I use soap and water (dish soap) with a CLEAN rag. Don't use compressed air to blow off unless its filtered and all moisture removed. Oil from the compressor will ruin your paint job.

That's a good point about having a filter/dryer setup on the air supply. But at the same time, if the OP would be blowing it off with unfiltered air, they would be using that same unfiltered air to apply the paint so it doesn't make a difference anyway. But yeah, definitely run a filter/dryer!

 

[pnwnvrdn]

I wipe it down with PrepSol, then tack cloth.
Yes on the filter/dryer.